Pantera vs. Opeth – Metal Madness 2013, Round 1

It's March Metal Madness 2013! To find the best metal album of all time, we're leaving it up to you to vote for your favorite records throughout the history of the genre. We've got two more innovators on the block in this Stage Dive region Round 1 matchup, with one of metal's most aggressive acts taking on one of the most eclectic acts in modern metal.

Pantera's 'Vulgar Display of Power' is a no-brainer for March Metal Madness. The album is absolutely packed with monster classics such as 'Walk,' 'F---ing Hostile,' 'Mouth for War,' 'This Love' and many others. The 2012 reissue of the album even brought us 'Piss,' which was voted Metal Song of the Year by Loudwire readers.

There's no band out there quite like Opeth. From demonically brutal, to gorgeous, to straight out of left field, to acoustic as well as electric, Opeth mix styles like no other. However, the band's 2001 full-length, 'Blackwater Park,' is in contention to defeat Pantera, if the fans will allow it. For Opeth and their fans, hope is far from 'Bleak' and Opeth's 'Funeral Portrait' may be far from painted.

Pantera's 'Vulgar Display of Power' or Opeth's 'Blackwater Park'? Vote for your favorite album in the poll below!

(This poll will end on Monday, March 18 at 11:59 PM EST. Fans are able to vote once per hour, so keep coming back to make sure your favorite album wins!)

Spread the word on Loudwire's March Metal Madness 2013 and earn a chance to win a $100 iTunes gift card. Just follow @loudwire on Twitter and retweet our announcement by clicking the red button below: